Machine for compressing tubes.



f Y PATENT-BD M AY 112, 190s.v R.KUHN. f MACHINE PoR colsalsmassmefl TUBES.

APPLIOATIONPILBD 00T. 25. 1902. I

1m MODEL.

`e alims-Snam 1.

m: Nonms PETERS co. vnoaumo., wnsumm'on. n r.

No. 727,642.- i PATENTBD MAY u,Y '1903.

' R. KUHN. j

MACHINE EUR GOMPRESSING TUBES.

APPLIOATION FILED O OT. 25, 1902'.

6 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

l Inventur* MMM MiB-Leases W' No. 727,642. l PATEN'IED MAY 12, 1903'.

' R. KUHN.

MACHINE FOR OMPRBSSING TUBE APPLIOATION FILED 00T. 25. 1902. Y No MODEL v -6 SHEETS-Smm a.

Witnesses 24W 2227 @M- MW 7&2@

v`PATENTE) MAY 12, 1903.

. j No. 727,642..

R. KUHN.. MACHINE Pon iooMPREssING TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED OGT. 25. 1902.

No MODEL.

mimw PATBNTED MAY l2, 1903.

` R.KUHN.

MACHINE FOR GOMPRESSING TUBES.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T. 25, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

PATENTED MAY l2, 1.903.

R. KUHN. A MACHINE FOR GOMPRESSING TUBES.

APPLIGATION FILED 00T. 25. 1902.

no MODEL.

l-Ll n Inl/'enfui Witnesses: 797 W Patented May 12, 193.

Fries. l

PATENT ROBERT KUHN. or CINCINNATI, OHIO.

yMACHINE CONIPRESSING TUES.

SPECIFICATION -rforlning partpof Letters Patent No. 727,642, dated May 12, 1903.

` Applicata inea catcher 25.1902. serai No. 128,758. or@ man.)

To all whom, it`7nct'yconcern:

Be it known that'I, ROBERT KUHN, a citizen of the United States, and a' resident of the city of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton' and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Machine for Compressing Tubes; and I do declare the following to be a clear', full, and exact description thereof, attention being called to the accompanying six sheets of drawings, with thereference characters marked thereon, which form also a part of this specification.

This invention relatesto means whereby metal (more particularly iron)'pipes ortubes are reduced in size either as to their outside diameter or to the thickness ot' their walls, or io both. The object of this reduction may be for any reason-as, for instance, in order to obtain a particular smaller size or to cure defects in a'larger pipe, which disappear during the reducing process, so thata largerpipe useless by reason of defects received during manufacture or otherwise may be rendered available again after reduced to a smaller size. The reduction is by rolls whichV act against a mandrel with the pipe'betwfeen,'the4 latter being stripped o of themandrel after the rolls have-done their work. In View of the fact that the pipes contemplateditobe vhandled are ot' limited tensile strength by reason of the proposed reduction in size or by reason of defects, or for both reasons, the.

strain incident to thesepration otjthe pipe from the mandreloannot exceed a corresponding limit to avoid injury to the pipe, and for which reason I reduce and compress a length or piece of ,pipe in short or limited stretchesy and separate the mandrel from the pipe everyv time before compressing the next stretch. The means wherebythis process is carried out form the leading feature of my invention.

In the following specification, and particularly pointed` out in the claims, is found a full description ofthe invention, together with its operation, parts, and construction, which latter is also illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l shows a side View of a series of devices whereby my invention is carried out.

Fig. 2 is a top View ot' the preceding figure. Figs. 3 to 7 show in side views, partly in section, the rolls and stripping device in the dil"- the stripping device.

ferent positions which they successively assuine during the cycle of one of their operations. Figs. Sio 12 are top views of each of the preceding figures. Fig. 13 is a horizontal section taken above the lower roll as it ap'- pears in Fig. 3; Fig. let is a front View ot Fig. lis a top view ofv a detached part of the former-to Wit, the

slide. Fig. 16 is a detail view ot' the pipeattaching link. Fig. 17 is a vertical crosssection on line 1717 of Fig. 7.v

The tubes are reduced diametrically and in the manner indicated by being passed through between two rolls which have registering grooves complementary to each other, which receive the tubes and correspond to the reduced size desired. At the closest approach ofthe rolls these grooves form an opening through which the pipe is passed. The reduction by compressing is against a mandreltemporarily within the tube. The tubes being worked hot closely adhere to this mandrel after compression, and therefore after the rolling Operation the two have to be separated froin each other. This is done by pulling one away from the other, the tube being usually pulled oif from the mandrel. This action by reason of the close adherence subjects the tubes to asevere tensile strain, which presumes and requires as to the tube a corresponding strength for resistance; other- Wise the same will be destroyed or lose its shape. As before stated, the kind of tubes which I propose to uoperate upon and the Sizes to which I intend to reduce them are such as to render them unable to withstand the continuous strain attendant upon pulling the finished pipe throughout its entire length off over the mandrel. proceed in this manner, that I reduce rst only a limited stretch of tube,vperhaps from five to ten inches, more orless, and according to the size of diameter and thickness of wall, after which this portion so reduced is immediately separated from. the mandrel, when the incident strain by reason of the short stretch is only limited. Another' adjoining stretch is then reduced and again separated, and so on by successive steps throughout the entire length of the particu- TOO lar piece of pipe until the same is finished.

This reduction of the tube for a short stretch Ythem.

4erative forward stroke.

only is due to a limited action of the rolls, which limited action may be obtained by reducing their diameter or by reducing the active part of their circumference. I prefer this latter method, and therefore compress only between a limited portion of the periphery, the space beyond which part and formed between the complementary parts of the grooves being enlarged, so that no action by the rolls against the pipe takes place. This enlargement of the space is obtained by enlarging-that is, deepening-the grooves-- that is, each one in each roll or only one of them--in which case the enlargement is all in one groove and correspondingly more extensive. I prefer this latter arrangement, the active part which accomplishes the reduction extending from c to I) within the groove c of the lower roll A, and which stretch coacts with the groove in the upper roll B when passing in juxtaposition therewith to perform the reduction proper, the two forming between them an opening of the proper size, while when the other part of groove c passes opposite the groove of the Lipper roll a larger space is formed between the rolls, which by reason of its size does not affect the pipe between To render possible a clear conception of the intended reduction, I state that in a pipe of one and one-half inches diameter the reduction is about one-eighth of an inch, slightly more or less, and in the apparatus whereby this work is accomplished and from which the annexed drawings were taken the rolls have a diameter of about fourteen inches, their active part extending about six inches, more or less, over their circum ference. This active part is all produced by the formation of the groove in the lower roll, and which groove beyond the active part is therefore enlarged about one-eighth of an inch. This enlargement, as will be readily noted, is therefore greatly exaggerated in the drawings as compared with the size of the rolls and other parts and has been done to render it more perspicuous.

The pipe C, as shown in the drawings, is introduced from the left, with the mandrel D against which it is to be com pressed in position within. This mandrel may be simply a rod of even thickness, orit maybe carried at the end of a thinner rod d. At the beginning of a cycle comprising the various steps of one operation this mandrel within the heated pipe occupies a position with its forward end about in line with the centers of the rolls, as shown in Fig. 3, so that when the active part a b of the lower roll comes in contact with the pipe the same will be compressed bet-wcen this part of the lower roll and a corresponding part of the groove in the upper rollagainst the mandrel between. Pipe and mandrel will new by reason of this contact move forward together to an extent equal to the circumferential length of this active part c I), which movement I will call the op- At the end of this stroke, as shown in Fig. 4, the opening between the rolls becoming new larger, so as to be equal, at least, to the size of the pipe before compression, no further action against this latter takes place, and the forward movement ceases. This stretch of pipe so compressed is new stripped off from the mandrel by devices attached to and pulling at the forward end of the pipe, the direction of this pulling movement being the same as the preceding movement impelled by the rolls, the mandrel being, however, held back now, so as to be unable to follow the pipe. It is clear that this stripping movement has necessarily and incidentally caused another stretch of pipe adjoining the compressed part to pass forward between the rolls without suffering compression, which must be returned, and is so returned, so that the released mandrel having also automatically returned meanwhile to its initial position, as shown in Fig. 3, both mandrel and pipe are in proper position for compression of the latter when the active part of the rolls comes around again, the same cycle of steps being repeated. When a pipe is first started in between the rolls, as shown in Fig. 1, a plug 10 (see Fig.16) at the end of a link 11, having projections to permit engagement, preferably in form of screwthreads and of a diameter equal to the man-- drel, is inserted in the end of the heated pipe ahead of the mandrel and so placed between the rolls that at that time the pipe is compressed against this plug and the projections thereof instead of against the mandrel,whereby a firm hold is obtained on it for the purpose of exerting the pulling action referred to when the pipe is stripped off from the mandrel. This link is detachably connected to the end of a rack 12 by means of a pin 13 passing through an eye on each, and which rack is mounted with a sliding fit in a rackway 14 in a slide l5. This latter is supported for a sliding movement within a frame 1G, for which purpose guide-strips 17 are provided on its sides taking into guideways 18 on the inside of the sides of the frame. Slide and rack are detachably held to each other by a dog 19, the latter occupying a slot 21 in the upper part of'the slide and com municating with the rackway, and which slot it never leaves, thus being compelled to' participate in all movements of the slide. It is, however, capable of an independent vertical movement in slot 21, which it occupies, and to and from the teeth of the rack, so that it may leave this latter, permitting rack and slide to move independently of each other. The movement of the slide is accomplished by two sets of cams, of which one set, 22, which I call the forward cams, moves the slide in one direction and when the pipe is pulled off from the mandrel `by the rack moving with the slide, while the other set 23, acting against forward extensions 21 on the slide, and which I call the return-cams,7 returns the slide, with the rack and pipe attached, in order to bring the IOO IOS

IIO

uncompressed part of the pipe incidentally advanced by the stripping action' back under the rolls. At both these movements the rack is connected to the slide by means of the dogV is held out by rollers 25, which support it, one

on each of its sides and rest on top of inclined planes 26, forming parts of tracks 27. The

cams are mounted on a shaft 28 and, together with the rolls, are continually moving at equal speed. Also mounted on this shaft are strikerarms 29, which are so set that after the end of the compressing stroke of the rolls their outer ends (see dotted lines in Fig. 4) encounter inclined surfaces 31 at the ends of' tracks 27, which latter are loosely mounted on rods 32. This contact causes these tracks to be spread from under rollers 25, permitting the dog on these latter to drop into the teeth of the rack, all as shown in Figs. 5 and lO.` This spreading action of the tracks is against springs 33, tending to hold them to their normal position. The rack is now connected to the slide, so that when this latter is engaged and moved by the foward cams the rack and the connected pipe follow and the latter is stripped off from the restrained mandrel. The beginning of this stripping stroke is shown in Figs. 5 and lO, at which time strikerarms 29 have cleared the tracks. These latter are prevented, however, from at once moving back to their previous position by reason of rollers 25 being between inclined planes 26. In due time, however, as the dog proceeds with the rack and slide these rollers clear these inclined planes, thereby permitting the tracks impelled by the action of springs 33 to assume again their normal positionunder the rollers, so that after the,

completion of the forward stroke and when the return-cams take a hold of the slide these rollers may ride upon these inclined planes 26 to disengage the'rack for the en-V suing compressing stroke of the rolls, as above described and shown in Fig. 3.

The action of springs 33 is limited by shoulders 34 on rods 32, whereby also the normal position of the tracks is defined. Since in practice it' is hardly possible to start a succeeding com-` pression so accurately after another as to avoid the showing of any break or marks between the strokes, I provide, by preference,l

for an overlapping in the compression ac- 4 tion-that is, when returning the uncompressed stretch of the pipe which had been incidentally moved forward with the stripping stroke I also return, in addition' thereto,

a small part of the previously-compressed part, or, inother words, I return more than' would be really required, so that' the rolls,

instead of taking hold at the point where the previous compression had ceased, take this particular part-that is, it will not bereduced any further-since the 4mandrel an'd formation of groovesin therolls limit the compression in all events. To obtain this lap,I proceed as follows: When the compression-stroke is almost completed and with parts vin a position as shown in Fig.y 6, the dog is caused to again leave the rack bymeans of otherinclined planes 35 near the other end of the tracksand on which these rollers ride up. The effect of this action is that rack and pipe are left behind, while the 'slide proceeds alone to a position as shown in Fig. 7, or, in o'ther words,-` during the stri pping stroke the slide alone completes its full movement,'equivalent lto the compression-stroke ot' the rolls,whi'le rack and pipe, having been slipped by the dog, do not. While slide and dog proceed alone duringthis last part of thestroke, the dog or proj ections on the slide encounter lateral inclined planes 36 on the inner side of tracks`27l and, spreading them, cause the dog to drop again into the 'teeth of the rack, as shown in Fig, 7, so that when the return-cams are ready to operate, as shown in the same figure, rack, pipe, and slide move again in unison to the starting position. (Shown in Fig. 3.) While they are so moving back, the tracks approach again, moving under the rollers as 'soonas these latter have cleared inclined planes.35

so that these rollers may ride up again on inclined planes 26 to disengage the dog fromy the rack at the end of the return stroke to leave it free for the beginning compressionstroke of the rolls and the active part of which now immediately takes hold of the pipe. It will now be seen that a certainstretch of the pipe (indicated by ct' bon a dotted line abovey the pipe and representing it) has been compressed and moved forward from the position shown in Fig. 3 toa position shown in Fig. 4. The position of the pipe does not change iii-Fig.

5; but the dog has been dropped by the strikerarms to connect the rack with the pipe to thek slide for 4the ensuing stripping stroke, continuing in the same direction as thel compression-stroke and ready to start presently.

The part so compressed hasV been loosened from the mandrel-by this stroke, as shown'in V Fig. 6, which moves the pipe in the same direction, which movement as tothe pipe isz,I however, short of the full advance movementas imparted by the rolls topipe andmandrel by reasonof the dog leaving the rack before ICO IIO

the end of this movement, as shown in Fig. 6, so that when slide and dog after having completed the last part of the stripping stroke alone and take hold again, as shown in Fig. 7, to return the pipe to bring its uncompressed part, necessarily advanced while the compressed part was pulled from the mandrel by the stripping stroke, back under the rolls, and which return movement is equal to the full forward or compression stroke, a part of the previously-compressed part is also returned beyond the starting-point, as shown in Fig. 3, or, in other words, the pipe has been advanced twicefirst by the rolls, then by the stripping-cams-after which itis returned again by the return-cams, the net gain or advance being equal to the full compression-stroke less the lap and as indicated by the upper dotted line in Fig. 3. The lap results by reason of the stripping stroke being shorter than the preceding compressionstroke, due to the dog being slipped from one rack-tooth into another, while the succeeding returning stroke is again equal to the full compression-stroke. The mandrel returns automatically as soon as it has become loose from the pipe, which will occur in the position shown in Fig. 6, the return being accomplished by a weight acting on the end of its rod CZ. In practice I provide for two weights 37 at the ends of ropes 38, each connected to one end of a sliding bar 39, which acts against a projection on rod d and is perforated to permit this latter to pass freely. It acts directly against 'a sleeve 4l, through which rod d also passes freely, and on the other end of this sleeve is acollar 42, rigidly held to rod d, preferably by means of a set-screw, to permit adjustment. This sleeve passes also loosely through the upper end of a frame or post, which forms a stop 43 and limits the movement of rod d in either direction and as impelled either by the rolls or by weights 37. When moved by these latter, bar 39 acts against the abutting end of sleeve 4l, which latter acts against collar 42, the action continuing until bar 39 encounters stop 43, at which moment, the parts being accordingly adjusted, the mandrel is also in proper posit-ion between tho rolls and ready for the compression-stroke, as shown in Fig. 3. Movement in the other direction-that is, when the mandrel is moved with the rolls and pipe during the com pression-stroke-s limited by collar 42 at the end of rod d, which at the end of the compression-stroke comes in contact with the other side of stop 43 and holds the mandrel back while the stripping stroke proceeds. It will be seen that the mandrel-rod is always free to be moved back rearwardly at any time and to any extent-that is, partly or entirelyto permit its insertion into a new pipe and also for clearing plug 10, which is inserted at the other end of the pipe at the beginning of operations, as shown in Fig. l. VVheu a pipe is finished, pin 13, holding it to the rack, is pulled out and plug lO removed,

its projections embedded into the pipe being in shape of a screw-thread readily permitting such. Suitable supports, preferably in form of rollers 44, for pipe and rack to move on are provided between the rolls and stripping device and also on the other side of this latter to receive the rack as it moves out. The unitary motion of the parts is obtained by the means and gear connection shown, and whereby shaft 28 drives one ofthe roll-shafts, or vice versa. One roll-shaft drives the other, or the motion may proceed from a shaft 45, which drives everything. In the drawings the length of rack, pipe, and mandrel-rod and distance between rolls and stripping device is for obvious reasons shown short of the real proportions. Rods 32 may at the same time serve as tie-rods for side frames lb. At the end of operations and during the manipulation of a pipe for removal or insertion movement ofthe rack maybe prevented by simply raising the dog and holding it out of the rack. This may be done by hand assisted by any suitable contrivance-as, for instance, a pull-rope passing to the ceiling and over a roller may be used. For the starting operation the rack may be returnedthat is, moved toward the rolls-by hand.

Where an absolutely accurate operation of the devices can be obtained and in a manner that the succeeding compression actions so closely join each other as to leave no mark between, then the means for obtaining the lap mentioned and consisting of inclined planes 35 and lateral inclined planes 36 may be omitted, and rack and pipe may complete the stripping stroke with the slide.

One part of the reciprocating motion of certain members-as, for instance, the return movements of slide and rack-might also be accomplished by the action of weights instead of positively by cams, and the shape of the rack-teeth might be the usual form of a ratchet-tooth, which would push upwardly and clear the dog in one direction without requiring positive means at that time to raise the same.

Having described my invention, I claim as newl. In a device for reducing tubes by compression, the combination of a mandrel adapted to be inserted into the tube to be reduced, a set of compression-rolls having complementary grooves between which the tubes are received and which are so shaped that the rolls act operatively upon atube for a part only of their circumference, the action consisting of compressing the tube against the mandrel and simultaneously advancing both, means to arrest further progress of the mandrel after compression of the tube, a stripping device, mechanism to advance this latter with the attached tube still farther and in addition to and independently of the rolls after advancement by these latter ceases whereby the compressed part of the tube is loosened from the mandrel, and means to return rcloo' IIO

spectively mandrel and the vuncompressed part of the tube to proper position for operation.

2. In a device for reducing tubes by compression, the combination of a mandrel adapted to be inserted into the tube to be reduced, la set of com pression-rolls having complementary grooves between which the tubes are received and which are so shaped that the rolls Io act operatively upon a tube for a part only of their circumference,the action consisting of compressing the tube against the mandrel and simultaneously advancing both, means to arrest progress of the mandrel after com- J5 pression of the tube, a reciprocatory stripping device, mechanism to advance this latter with the attachedtube still farther and in addition to and independently of the rolls afterl advancement by these latter ceases zo whereby the compressed part of the tube is loosened from the mandrel, and means to return the mandrel to a position within this uncompressed part.

3. In a device for reducing tubes by compression, the combination of a mandrel adapt` ed to be inserted into the tube to be reduced, a set of compression-rolls having complementary grooves between which the tubes are re-` ceived and which are so shaped that the rolls 3o act operatively upon a tube for a part only of their circumference, the action consisting of;

compressing the tube against the mandrel and simultaneously advancing both, means to arrest further progress of the mandrel after compression ofthe tube, a slide, mechanism for moving the same from and toward ,the rolls, means for intermittently connecting the tube to the slide and operating so as to release the same therefrom while it is advanced by the rolls and means to return the mandrel to operative position.

4. In a device for reducing tubes by compression, the combination of a mandrel adapted to be inserted into the tube to be reduced,

a set of compression-rolls having complementary grooves between which the tubes are received and which are so shaped that the rolls act operatively upon a tube for a part only of their circumference,the action consisting of 5o compressing the tube against the mandrel and simultaneously advancing both, means to arrest further progress of themandrel after compression of the tube, a slide, mechanism for moving the samefrom and toward the rolls, a rack to which one end of the tube is attached and which is detachably connected to the slide, means operating to detach the rack which moves with the tube and the rolls and means to return the'mandrel to op- 6o erative position. Y

5. In a device for reducing tubes by compression, the combinationof a mandreladapted to be inserted into the tube to be reduced, a set of compression-rolls having complemen- 6 5 tary grooves'between which the tubes are received and which are so shaped that the rolls act operatively upon a tube fora part only of Iof the rolls.

their circumference, the action consisting of compressing the tube against the mandrel and simultaneously advancing both, a rack 7o to which the forward end of the tube is attached, a slide to whichvthis rack is detachablyfcon'nected, mechanism moving the slide in a manner to extend the advance of the rack and tube after their advance by the rolls, means to prevent the mandrel from partioipating in this movement and means to return respectively' mandrel and tube to proper position for the succeeding operation 8o 6. In a device for reducing tubes by compression, the combination of a mandrel adapted to be inserted into the tube to be reduced, a set of compression-rolls having comple- 'mentary grooves between which the tubes-85 are received and which are so shaped that the rolls act operatively upon a tube for a part only of their circumference, the action consisting of compressing the tube against the mandrel and simultaneously advancingboth, '9o a rack to which the advancing end of the tube is attached, a slide to which the rack is detachably connected, mechanism for reciprocating the slide to and from the rolls, means to prevent the mandrel from moving with the 95 tube when this latter is advanced by the slide and means to return it to its initial position.

7. In a device for reducing tubes by compression, the combination of a mandrel adapted to be inserted into the tube to be reduced, roo

'a set ofv compression-rolls having complementary grooves between which the tubes are received and which are so shaped that the rolls act operatively upon a tube for a part only of their circumference, the action con- V5 sisting of compressing the tube against the mandrel and simultaneously advancing both,

a slide to which the tube is connected, means to move the slidewith the tube away and toward the rolls, the operation being such that 11o the return movement of the tube exceeds its advance, means to prevent the mandrelfrom following the tube when advanced by the slide and means to return it to its initial position.

8. In a device for reducing tubes by compression, the combination ofamandrel adapted to be inserted into the tube to be reduced,

a set of compression-rolls 'having complementary grooves between which the tubes 12o are received and which are so shaped that the rolls act operatively upon a `tube for a part only of their circumference, the action consisting of compressing the tube against the mandrel and simultaneously advancing both, 125 a rack to which the advancing end of the tube is attached, a slide to which the rack is detachably connected, mechanism for reciprocating the slide with the rack toward and from the rolls and means to release the rack 3o from the slide when advanced by the rolls.

9. In a device' for reducing tubes by Acompression, the combination of a mandreladapted to be inserted into the tube to beireduced,

a set of compression-rolls having complementary grooves between which the tubes are received and which are so shaped that the rolls act operatively upon a tube for a part only of their circumference, the action con sisting of compressing the tube against the mandrel and simultaneously advancing both,

a rack to which the advancing end of the tube is attached, a slide to which the rack is detachably connected, mechanism for reciprocating the slide with the rack toward and from the rolls and means operating to temporarily release the rac-k from the slide before this latter starts on its return movement toward the rolls.

l0. In a device for reducing tubes by compression, the combination of a set of compression-rolls having complementary grooves to receive the tubes to simultaneously compress and advance them, a reciprocatory mandrel adapted to share in this advance, a stripping device and mechanism to advance this latter with the attached tube still farther and in addition to and independent of the rolls after advancement by these latter ceases whereby the compressed part of the tube is loosened.

11. In a device for red ncing tubes by compression, the combination of a set of compression-rolls having complementary grooves to receive the tubes to simultaneously compress and advance them, a mandrel supported so as to be free to have a reciprocatory movement limited to equal the movement imparted by the rolls to the tube, a stripping device and mechanism to advance this latter with the attached tube still farther and in addition to and independent of the rolls after advancement by these latter ceases whereby the compressed part of the tube is loosened.

12. In a device for reducing tubes by compression,the combination of a compressing device, a mandrel against which the same opver/,642

crates, means whereby the same is supported in a manner to have a limited reciprocatory movement to and from the compressing device, butleft free to be removed bodily in a direction away from this latter, a stripping device and mechanism to advance this latter with the attached tube still farther and in addition to and independent of the rolls after advancement by these latter ceases whereby the compressed part of the tube is loosened.

13. In combination with a compressing device which has an intermittent action and reduces tubes against a mandrel, a stripping device consistingr of a slide, tube-attaching means for connecting the tube to the slide and mechanism operating intermittently for imparting a reciprocating movement to the slide.

14. In combination with a compressing device which has an intermittent action and reduces tubes against a mandrel, a stripping device consisting of a reciprocatory slide, mechanism whereby it is intermittently operated, attaching devices whereby the tube is caused to move with the slide and means operating to temporarily disconnect the two.

15. In combination with a compressing device which by intermittent action reduces tubes against a mandrel, a stripping device for separating them after each operation and an attaching-plug with projections to temporarily connect a tube to the stripping device, the connection being made at the beginning of operations when the end of the tube is compressed against the inserted plug and the projections thereon.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT KUHN.

Vitnesses:

C. SPENGEL, ARTHUR KLINE. 

